Moles

The ABCDE Rule for Moles

Almost everyone has moles. The vast majority of moles are perfectly harmless. A change in a mole’s appearance is a sign that you should see your doctor. Here’s the simple ABCD rule to help you remember the important signs of melanoma and other skin cancers:

A is for ASYMMETRY

One-half of a mole or birthmark does not match the other.

B is for BORDER:

The edges are irregular, ragged, notched,
or blurred.

C is for COLOR

The color is not the same all over, but may have differing shades of brown or black,
sometimes with patches of red, white, or blue.

D is for DIAMETER:

The area is larger than 6 millimeters (about 1/4 inch the size of a pencil eraser) or is growing larger.

E is for EVOLVING

Any mole that begins to change in any way should be evaluated by a dermatologist.